Refrigerating apparatus



Oct. 27, 1931. .1. 3. KING 1,829,408

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 30, 1928 alien-1:1

Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JESSE G. KING, OFDAYTON, OHIO, ABSIGNOB TO FRIGIDAIBE CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ACORPORATION OI DELAWARE BEIBIGEBATING APPARATUS Application filedJanuary 80, 1928. Serial No. 250,406.

The present invention relates to improvements in refrigerating apparatusand more particularly to devices adapted for rapidly cooling drinkingwater or other liquids.

It is an object of the invention to provide a refrigerating apparatus bymeans of which a relatively continuous supply of cold water may besecured without requiring large capacity storage containers.

It is another object of the invention to arrange the water andrefrigerant circulating elements of the device so that in case ofaceidental freezing of the water and breaking of the water-carryingpipes the refrigerating circuit will not be deranged.

With these and further objects in view the invention contemplatesprovidin a refrigerating device in which a series 0 concentric pipes areused for circulating the water and refrigerant and which are connectedto a refrigerant circulating system and a source of water supply in sucha manner as to rovide a compact structure and eflicient an rapid heatexchange between the refrigerant and 5 the liquid to be cooled.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be'apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates the improved refrigerating device mounted for use ina cabinet of the Water cooler type;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the improved refrigerating element ofthe invention and its associated coils, showing a preferred embodimentof the invention, and

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a variation of the refrigerating element.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the refrigerating element comprisesa heat exchange device in which a refrigerating medium such as sulphurdioxide is caused to expand producing a reduction of temperature in thewell-known manner. In the preferred embodiment of the invention asillustrated an evaporator of the flooded system 60 with its associatedcoil of pipe constitutes the heat exchange device, although it will beunderstood that an suitable refrigerating system may be use in carryingout the invention and that an expansion valve or an absorption systemmay likewise be used. When the evaporator or flooded type of device isused the refrigerating element consists as shown in the drawings, of acontainer or tank 10 containing a suitable refrigerant such as liquidsulphur dioxide indicated by 11 which is supplied to the tank by meansof pipe 12 and which in a gaseous state is withdrawn from the tank bymeans of pipe 13 connected with a compressor unit not shown. The levelof the liquid within the tank 10 is kept constant by means of a valve 14controlled by a float 15.

Suspended from the tank 10, which may also be termed a header, andpreferably below said tank, is a pipe system comprising a coil 17 in thecase of the structure shown in Fig. 2 and bent loops 16 arranged in ato-and-fro manner in two sets as shown in Fig. 3.

Disposed within and concentric or telescoping with the coil 17 in thecase of Fig. 2 is another coil 18 shown by the dotted lines. This coilis connected to the header by means of pipe sections 19, 20 and servesto hold refrigerating medium. The coil 17 which telescopes or surroundsthe pipe 18 serves for the circulation of water, the inlet and outlet ofwhich are indicated by 21, 22.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the pipe 16 is connected to theheader by means or branches 23, 24 and serves to contain refrigerant,While a pipe 25 concentric or telescoping with pipe 16 and locatedinside thereof as shown by the dotted line is used for conveying water,its extremities 26, 27 represent ing the water inlet and outlet points.

It will be observed therefore that the refrigerating element comprisescoils of concentric pipes, one of which conducts a refrigerant and theother of which conveys water. The water in either case gives up its heatto the refrigerating medium which boils off in its own tube and returnsto the header as a gas which bubbles up through the body of liquid inthe header. It is withdrawn from the header through pipe 13 andsubsequently I condensed and as a liquid p 12 through of the watercongealing and possibly rupturin the water-carrying pipe. In such a caseit is desirable to prevent damage to therefrigerant carrying pipe andconsequent entry of water into the refrigerant circulating circuit.

By placing the water pipe exteriorly to the refrlgerant-carrying pipesuch danger is obviated since if the water congeals it will tend toburst outwardly and while the resulting leakage of water may be annoyingthe break will cause less" damage than if the water should find its wayinto the refrigerant umping circuit, which might occur if the re-?rigerant-carrying pipe was ruptured.

In cases where such danger of congealing does not exist, such as ininstallations where the water is merely cooled to a predetermineddegree, it may be advantageous to use the structure shown in Fig. 3wherein the refrigerant circulating coil is disposed exter orly withrespect to the water-carrying plpe.

Referring to Fig. 1 the water cooling'apparatus of the invention isshown mounted 1n a cabinet of the water cooler type. The coolercomprises a cabinet 30 having walls 31 enclosing a chamber in which'therefrigerating element is mounted. The element may be supported withinthe cabinet as by means of straps or hangers 33 passing around the bodyof the header 10 and fastened to a portion of the body of the cabinet bymeans of bolts 34. The header is connected with the refrigerant-pumpingcircuit or unit by means of the su ply and withdrawal pipes 12, 13 abovere erred to. Water may be supplied to the cooling-coil through pipe 35and may be withdrawn from a faucet 36 or the like, a glass holder 37 anddrain pipe 38 being provided if desired, or else a fountain mouthpieceof the bubbling variety.

. .The interior of the compartment 39 is filled with a heat insulatingmaterial such as kapok or the like. The compressor unit which is used tocirculate the refrigerating medium may be disposed in the machinecompartment 40 of the cabinet. a

By means of the device illustrated and described, it is possible tosecure a relatively continuous supply of cooled water without the use ofstorage containers. By the structure of concentric pipes shown, a ra idheat exchange is effected etween the re igerant and the water to becooled. In addition danger of damage to the refrigerating circuit isobviated by means of the pipe construction shown in which the congealingwater exerts its expansive force outwardly thus. I

prevents rupture' of the refrigerant-carrying i 'hile the form ofembodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutesatgpreferred form it is-to beunderstood that 0 er forms might beadopted. all coming within the sco What'is clalmed is 'as follows:- 7

. 1. A liquid cooler comprising a refrigerant level maintainin header, adepending pipe system associate therewithinc uding a plurality of pi es,one telescoping with the other, one 0 said pi es being connected to saidheader at both ends to'maintain refrigerant li uid circulating withinsaid pipe and the ot er of said pi'pesbeing adapted to circulate the liuid to be cooled within said pipe, the liqui in contact with the otherpipe.

2. A liquid cooler comprisin a refrigerant level maintaining header an adepending coil of pipe associated therewith at both ends in refrigerantcirculating relation, and a coil exterior thereto and telescopingtherewith and adapted to circulate the liquid to be in one of said pipesbeing of the .claims which follow.

cooled in contact with said refrigerant cir- I culating coil.

3. A liquid cooler comprising a refrigerant container and means forsupplying said container with a constant quantity of liquid refrigerant,a helical coil de endin said container and connected in refrigerantcirculating relation therewith at both ends and a coil exterior theretoand telescopin therewith and adapted to circulate the liqui to be cooledin contact with said refrigerant circulating coil.

4. A liquid cooler comprising a container for holding a refrigeratingmedium, means for maintaining a constant level of refrigerant in saidcontainer, a pipe system associated with said container and including aplurality of ipes, one telescoping withthe other, one of said pipesbeing connected to said container at a plurality of points to maintainrefrigerant liquid circulating with in said pipe and the other of saidpipes besignature.

ESSE G. KING.

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